Home to Caroline by Adera Orfanelli Read Free Book Online Page A

scooped up her clothes. Hastily she dressed, then held out her hand to her husband.
    “I want to show you something.”
    His eyes widened but he said nothing. Instead, he stood and pulled on his clothes. Once decently covered, he offered her his hand.
    She took it, needing the strength in his fingers. The time was now. If they were to go forward and build a life together, there could be no more secrets. Her body ached pleasantly from his loving, her breasts still sensitive and heavy. She led him out of the barn, noticing the streaks of red and orange in the western sky. They’d almost waited until dark; she was thankful they hadn’t.
    The small cemetery sat a distance away from the house. Just walking here with her husband eased the heavy weight in her heart. Once he knew…well, then she would know. And she squeezed his fingers, praying to God that Travis would stay. She drew a deep, shuddering breath wondering how to find the words to tell him that she’d failed to bear him a son.
    “The cemetery?” he asked when they stopped outside the low wooden fence.
    She nodded, her throat too tight to speak. Opening the gate, she led him through, glad that enough light remained to see. There, next to the crosses that marked her father and Samuel, stood the one that honored her son. She took him there, the dirt less fresh than over Samuel’s grave. A few raggedy weeds poked from the bare ground. Flower seeds had been on her list of things to buy in town once she had the fields planted. She wished now that she’d had her husband buy them today. Except they seemed frivolous when listed next to such staples as flour and salt.
    She knelt and blinked back tears. Her womb ached, remembering that fateful day when the first labor pains had struck. “This is what I wanted to show you. This is what Mr. Nash was trying to tell you at the store.” She brushed dirt away from the words inscribed on the cross, then stood to await her husband’s response.
    “David Travis Dunworth. Died at birth,” Travis read. He drew a harsh breath. “Our son.”
    Caroline reached for him, curling her fingers around his arm. “Yes. I conceived the last time you came home on leave.”
    “You didn’t tell me? You didn’t write a letter?” Travis turned and cupped her shoulders, staring into her eyes. He searched for something, maybe an answer, maybe the truth, maybe a reason to discard her.
    A lump formed in her throat. “You had other things to worry about. Your country torn apart by war. Your family living in a Confederate state.” She shook her head, willing him to understand. “Things can happen out here. I grew up on a farm. I didn’t want to tell you until I knew for sure the babe would live.” She swallowed hard. “I didn’t want to worry you.” Reaching up she stroked his cheek, hoping he saw the anguish twisting in her soul.
    “You should have told me.” Travis turned to kneel at his son’s gravesite. “A son. God, Caroline, you should have told me.” He pulled her down beside him.
    Caroline wrapped an arm around his shoulders, her forehead resting against his arm. “I know. If you want to leave, I understand. I didn’t…” She let her words fall into silence, not sure how to tell him. Anything she said would only sound trite now. With the fury of war surrounding him, informing him of another death, one closer to home, would have only made him worry.
    “You didn’t tell me about Samuel either,” Travis said.
    His soft words lifted her hopes. Maybe he understood. “I only mentioned my father because Samuel was here to help keep the farm running. He’d protect me and he did. One of the last things he did before the cough took him was to go into town and secure promises from Mr. Nash and the blacksmith that I’d be taken care of, no matter what.” She reached down with her left hand and squeezed his. “I love you, Travis. I know we haven’t had much time together, but I do love you. You’re a kind, good man. And you